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Community is the name of the game at Stevens this year

Jacqueline Martinez (left) and Liyahna Lucero enter Stevens Elementary on red carpet and surrounded by cheers on the first day of school in Wheat Ridge. The two friends started second grade.

Kevin M. Smith

Raquel Avila (far right) takes a picture of Zaria and Ariel, both in pre-kindergarten, during first day of school activities at Stevens Elementary in Wheat Ridge.

Kevin M. Smith

Fifth grade teacher Emily Cowles greets students as they enter Stevens Elementary for the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 16.

Kevin M. Smith

Desiree Mericle, school dean, cheers students and parents as they enter Stevens Elementary in Wheat Ridge for the first day school.

Kevin M. Smith

Stevens Elementary Principal TJ McManus listens to students' reply during the morning assembly on the first day of school. To create a sense of community, all-school assemblies are held each day before classes begin.

Kevin M. Smith

Parents and students stand in line for breakfast, mingle and meet with teachers in the cafeteria before the first day of school starts at Stevens Elementary in Wheat Ridge on Thursday, Aug. 16. The cafeteria has new round tables to enourage collaboration amongst students and during community events.

Kevin M. Smith

Stevens Elementary Principal TJ McManus talks to students during the morning assembly on the first day of school. To create a sense of community, all-school assemblies are held each day before classes begin.

Faculty with pom-poms in hand cheered students and parents as they entered the building — via a red carpet and balloon arch — for the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 16. Students and parents passed by a new picnic area outside the cafeteria and had the option to grab some breakfast in a revamped dining space Thursday morning.

“We’ve removed old-fashioned long tables,” McManus said.

Now dubbed the Family and Community Engagement Center, the formerly known cafeteria features round tables with eight seats.

McManus said the space will also be utilized to host community events.

Outside, she hopes parents use the new picnic tables to share lunch with their children during the school day.

“We hope that gets a sense of community going, build some relationships with the parents, get some volunteers into the school,” McManus said.

McManus also pointed out other school features like the new community garden beds available for rent for planting vegetables or flowers. While providing space for gardening, it will also be used as a learning space for students. The community garden is in partnership with Denver Urban Gardens. To rent a gardening bed, contact the school.

“Stevens also operates a community hub, so it’s resources for families,” McManus explained. “It offers clothing, dry goods, medical care on Fridays, access to coats and shoes, access to computers.”

She said The Hub is in a new space in the school to the left of the cafeteria doors.

McManus said creating that sense of community that she continually reiterates is part of the Jeffco Generations initiative by the school district, but she wanted Stevens Elementary to focus on it.

“It’s something we really want to promote here,” McManus said. “So making sure our families have everything they need to be successful in life and that their kids can be successful in school.”

The school’s motto is “cultivating caring leaders of tomorrow.”

“Everything revolves around that and the services we can provide,” McManus said.

Fifth grade teacher Emily Cowles said that’s what attracted her to the school. It’s her first year teaching at Stevens Elementary.

“I’m just really excited to be here, so I’ve got the same first day jitters as my kids,” Cowles said.

Cowles said things like the reconfigured cafeteria help, it’s more welcoming and interactive when students can look at each other while eating.

“I was really drawn to the school because it’s an EL model curriculum,” she said.

The "expeditionary learning" model is about teaching in a way that relates to students’ everyday lives. Cowles said.

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